Pumpkins, marrows or squashes ideally do very well on natural well rotted manure, firstly dig a trench at least a foot deep ( 30 cms ) and fill with the manure, cover with 3 or 4 inches of soil and plant seeds on that or firstly start them off in a greenhouse or on the window sill and plant out after frosts, Roy.

Thanks, can i grow pumpkins from the middle of the site and squashes dotted around the empty spaces so say 4 squash and a pumpkin in the middle. The site is 4x6 meters. Thanks will

Pumpkins will grow well on top of your compost heap I did this last year and got a huge 90kg one that was raffled of at work(tesco) for diabetes uk.(See my pics)

Try growing CELERIAC I grow it on my allotment next to my swedes no special soil needed try sowing in pots early February to March in slight heat about 16 c in pots, transplant after hardening off and transplant out in May (celeriac goes with well with mash potatoes and makes great soup ) with a celery taste and smell.

I have not made a compost heap yet as i have just got my allotment but i will keep that idea in mind thanks. Celeriac though good that

what is the best variaty thats unusual? But still astes good.

I would think you could grow even more than that, probably 1 per square metre, Roy.

Really? will this smother new weeds coming up aswell?

Why don’t you try growing heritage/heirloom varieties of the more common varieties of veg we see today I grew couve tronchuda, purple podded peas, Kentucky waxed beans and a few other of the old varieties last year This year I am also going to have a go at growing snake gourd, kirschklumpen tomato and salsify and scorzonera.Also try yacon and oca.

How about Jerusalem artichokes? Never seen those for sale. (Mind you, my family wouldn't eat them and they cropped magnificently year after year...)

No way would you get me eating f…ichokes Stera! How about salsify, tomatilloes, okra or sweet potatoes?

Does it totally have to be unusual? There are some familiar foods that taste SO much better eaten immediately after harvest, where supermarket products just aren't the same.
Sweetcorn is particularly known for this, and can be planted as a handful of dot plants among the squashes.

this might help :) Title; 10 unusual and exotic vegetables to try growing and eating at home

http://www.bbc.co.uk/hamptoncourt/features/veg.shtml

I didn't really like them either MG, but somebody must and they do crop well! I don't fancy okra either but its horses for courses.

I wouldn't eat okra either Stera… but it is an unusual vegetable :)

it certainly is round here! Didn't know it would grow in this country anyway.
How about Swiss Chard? Bright and cheerful, makes a good stir fry and it lasts all winter. There's pic on my blog today.

take a tip from an old man,grow what you can eat and enjoy too many of the tv garden shows try to impress people whith unusual stuff and if you can,t eat or store it seems a total waste of energy and space one thing that will never cross my patch is GARLIC yuk!!

MG, only just noticed f--tichokes - LOL!

lol!

Sorry Snoop, to disagree with you but garlic is fabulous stuff. But I do think one either loves it or hates it.
My wife and son can't stand it while my 2 daughters and I are real fans.
For example - if a recipe suggests 2 cloves I'll put in at least 6, and I found a chicken recipe with 30 cloves in recently, of course I tried it. But aglio e olio is my favourite.

glad you like it hank please don,t breath toward me

Reminds me of our son who once was travelling on one of the old style trains , very crowded, after eating - believe this if you can- a garlic burger. He had the compartment to himself!

A garlic burger ? Now there's a great idea. Thanks Sue, I'm on it.